It may be 30-degrees under piercingly clear skies, bluer than a sapphire, bluer than Paul Newman’s eyes, but a mild case of sunstroke alone can’t be blamed for Josh Bell’s dizzying projections.

“To the outside world right now,’’ says the Calgary Stampeders safety, tugging thoughtfully on that distinctive thatch of beard seemingly Velcro-ed on the tip of his chin, “we might look like the best thing since someone first sliced bread. But we still have a long way to go.

“A L-O-N-G way to go.

“That said, it’s good that we’ve started here. At this level. At this point. Because if we’ve started here, it’ll be outrageous when we actually get good. Seriously outrageous. We’ll be like the ’85 Bears. Something crazy like that.’’

With a new No. 1, Bo Levi Mitchell, at the controls, the CFL’s top player Jon Cornish languishing on the six-game injury list, big-play wideout Mo Price also sidelined and a banged-up offensive line, the Stamps’ attack is understandably grinding its way through this nifty 4-0 start.

The defence, though, has been simply commanding. The transition from Rick Campbell to grandmaster Rich Stubler in the co-ordinator role has gone as smoothly as John Hufnagel could’ve dreamt. To wit:

*Fewest points allowed — 52 (13 per game).

*Fewest yards net offence — 1,097.

*Fewest yards rushing — 311.

The group has only surrendered three lonely touchdowns (one via the air, two along oil’ terra firma) over four starts and ranks second in fewest net yards passing.

Not that grandfatherly oil’ Stubes is in the least impressed.

“We only look at only one stat,’’ he protests genially, three days before his old crew, the B.C. Lions, hit town. “Did we win or did we lose? The other stats are meaningless.

“When I was in Toronto one year, we set the modern-day record, like first in every category. And we didn’t reach the final. We still only scored 16 points. Got beat 19-16. My dad taught me a long time ago, we want to end up with one more point than the other team. Smart man, my dad.

“One more point.

“However that has to happen, that’s all we talk about.

“Being in Canada 27 years, I know this: The run’s not going to win games for you. Our being able to stop the run has enabled us to play our nickel package to do some things that might be considered exotic, and that’s helped us.

“And everybody seems to have a bad day against us, which we’re real appreciative of.’’

Those accustomed to his ways, such as first-year Stamps Bell and DB/SAM linebacker Lin-J Shell, know better. They could’ve told anyone who cared to inquire that flexibility is a Stubler hallmark.

“He’s extremely … malleable,’’ says Bell. “Extremely. He will not be caught stuck in his ways. He does things that are unorthodox. You watch our film and watch somebody else’s film two weeks later and they’ve copied us. Because he’s done something that’s against the grain.

“And coach Stubes allows us to be who we are. He doesn’t say ‘I want this type of player!’ He just says ‘I just want somebody who can play multiple positions, learn the defence, learn the gist of it and take ownership of it.’ As a player you love that.

“If you’re stuck, if you’re set in your ways, if you’re not willing to change or keep learning, the times will pass you by. Not coach Stubes. That’s why he’s lasted through the ages. He wants to know ‘Why? Why? Why?’ That’s something he emphasized my first couple of years — know the why.’’

“I’m pleased but not surprised at our start,’’ echoes Shell. “Coach Stubler is a guy who preaches unity. It’s all for one. Not first team, second team, third team. None of that. It’s ‘The Defence’. When you play like that, it’s easy to jell.

“He’s full of life. Stubes has never worked a day in his life. He’s just been spending his time coaching. Living his dream. He’s acting 25 years old on the inside. And that rubs off.’’

For Stubler newbies, the reality has lived up to expectation. Middle linebacker Juwan Simpson speaks admiringly of his communication skills. Others, such as D-lineman Corey Mace, credit the cohesion, the camaraderie, instilled in a short period of time in helping bridge that inevitable feeling-out period.

“With so many years in the league, The Boss has so many things to bring to the table,’’ says Mace. “The one thing I really do enjoy, and a lot of other guys on the defence do, too, I know, is that we do everything together. Just watching film together is something I haven’t done … well, for as long as I can remember. So we all hold each other accountable, for the great plays and the messes. That keeps us bonded. I like that.

“Taking nothing away from Rick, he’s a helluva coach. But Stubes, he is a freakin’ character, man. He’s got a joke book that must be 1,000 pages thick. We have fun but when it’s time to turn on the lights, we turn on the lights.

“It is early, but whatever stats we have put up are reflections of him putting us in the right spots to execute.’’

So far, so great. As Josh Bell noted there’s a long way to go. Hopefully a 16-games long way.

Asked the best defences he can remember in his time following and playing the game, Bell tugs thoughtfully on that thatch of beard on the tip of his chin again.

“Well, the Baltimore Ravens the year they won the Super Bowl. For sure. The ’85 Bears, as I mentioned. The Green Bay Packers, take your pick, one of the two years, ’09 or 2010. I’m biased ‘cause I was there. Dom Capers, right?

“And I’d say the B.C. Lions with coach Stubes. In 2012 we led the league defensively. Tapered off a bit at the end but that was a real good defence.’’

Can this group, given the individual pieces and the same man in charge of the production, be every bit as good?

“I believe,’’ is the immediate reply from Bell, “it can be better. I truly do. We didn’t have a pure speed rusher off the edge on that team. It was more everybody played well together.

“We have some outrageous D-lineman here. If they can stop the run and get pressure on the quarterback now we look like superstars on the back end. We may not be able to cover a soul but if the quarterback can’t throw a good ball outside, it doesn’t matter.

“You can never be sure what’s going to be happen, how things will unfold, of course.

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